by Jayda Marx
“So,” Rory began, “You said your father taught you how to be a good leader. Was he an Alpha too?”
I smiled at how receptive and intelligent my mate was. “He was. He was the leader of the pack I was born into. My mother was his fated match and ruled by his side as the Alpha mate.” I went into detail about my brother, how he betrayed our father and took over the pack by force. As I described to Rory how my friends fled with me and created our own pack, his face fell.
“You lost your whole family in one day,” he replied sadly. “I’m so sorry.” He took my hand and squeezed it gently.
“Thank you. It was many years ago, but it still hurts. Though I was always meant to leave my old pack to lead my own, shifters forge deep and lasting bonds with their families and friends.”
“And mates?” he asked hopefully.
I smiled and ran my fingers through his soft hair. “And mates. The bond between a shifter and their mate is everlasting and unbreakable. Once a shifter has found his or her mate, they dedicate their lives to caring for, providing for, and protecting that person. They can never be without them, and they can never love or desire another. They will move heaven and earth to make sure that person is happy. They will reject anyone who disrespects their mate, or kill anyone who tries to bring them harm. But most importantly, they will love them without limits for the rest of time.”
“Wow,” Rory whispered. He licked his dry lips and asked, “And that’s how you feel about me?”
“Always,” I answered seriously. “I told you that I recognized you by scent and instinct. Since the moment I came in contact with you, my body has called out for you. I long for your presence and your touch. A desperate need burns inside of me to look after you and make you happy. I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on you, and once I spoke to you and got to know you, I fell even deeper. You are the other half of my heart and soul and I can’t live without you.”
“Is that why it hurts when I think about leaving your house or when I didn’t kiss you?”
“Yes. Even though you are human, Fate has perfectly matched us and your body can feel the pull between us. We need each other to both survive and thrive. Once we are bonded, we will be linked together for all time and nothing can separate us.”
“How do we bond? Is meeting and falling in love not enough? Is bonding like a marriage?”
“In a sense,” I replied, bobbing my head back and forth. “But it is much deeper and stronger than any marriage or human union. It links our very souls and lives together. You will inherit my increased metabolism to keep your body strong and vibrant, as well as speed up your healing processes if you become injured. You will also be granted with immortality. We will live on this earth together and I promise to fill every day with love and happiness.”
“I’ll live forever?” Rory looked shocked as he shook his head in disbelief. “Will I just keep getting older? Will I get all wrinkly and saggy with brittle bones and illnesses? Because that doesn’t seem like a great way to live, if I’m honest.”
“I love your honesty.” I appreciated that I never had to guess what he was thinking, and that he told me how he felt whether it was what I wanted to hear or not. That characteristic would make him a wonderful leader. I pecked his lips and gave him a wide smile. “But you don’t need to worry about that. The aging process of shifters and their mates slow around the natural age of thirty to forty. We are also immune to all diseases.”
“How old are you?” he asked, tipping his head to the side.
“Seventy three.”
“Damn, you look great for your age.”
I laughed out loud at my mate’s frankness and appreciation. “Thank you. I’m glad you approve.”
“Especially since you’ll look like that forever,” he nodded, and I chuckled again. “But what about me? I’ve got at least ten years of aging to do; I’m sure my appearance will change. What if you don’t like the changes?”
“It’s impossible. You will only grow more handsome and desirable in my eyes.”
“Okay, good answer.” My grin widened at his humor and sweetness. “So, is the bonding like a ceremony or something?”
Oh, right. I still haven’t answered that question. “Not exactly. We can have a ceremony if you like; I will do anything you wish to make you happy, but to complete our bond, I must spill my seed inside you and give you my mating bite.”
“Oh.” Rory blinked wide eyes. “Screw a wedding; that sounds way more fun.”
I laughed at his reaction, but also wanted to make sure he understood the gravity of our bond. “Once we are mated, nothing will be able to separate us; not even death. We will be immortal by natural causes, but can be killed. If one of our lives is cut short, the other’s death will immediately follow so that we never have to live apart.”
Rory let out a long breath. “I understand. I’ll be careful to not put myself in harm’s way so that I won’t risk your eternal life. And I know that you’ll protect me the best you can.”
“I promise.” I sealed my vow with a kiss to his forehead. “Once we are bonded, time apart beyond a few hours will cause us physical pain. I ask that you live here with me. If you wish to continue working, I will respect that and gladly take you to and from your job and watch over you while you work. If you’d rather quit your job, I will provide you with everything you need and you can spend your days doing the things that make you happy.”
“So if I wanted to quit and just spend my time hiking and taking photographs and watching movies with you or just loving you all day in our bed, you wouldn’t think I was a giant lazy lump?”
“Not a chance.” Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything I’d love more than providing for my mate and allowing him to only do activities he enjoyed, but I didn’t want to sway Rory’s decision in any way.
Rory tapped his fingers on his chin as he thought. “So you’re telling me that I will live forever with my drop dead sexy wolf husband in the house that he built, where he will protect me, provide for me, and love me for the rest of time?”
“Yes.” I scrunched up my eyebrows as Rory tucked his arms inside the sleeves of his shirt. “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting naked,” he replied like it should be obvious. “So that we can get to the bonding.”
A growl of lust and anticipation rumbled in my chest. Rory stopped taking his shirt off, letting it hang around his neck like a scarf, and looked at me with rounded eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just excited.”
“You didn’t scare me,” he responded with a slow shake of his head. “You’re so turned on that you went all primal for me; that’s hot as hell.” He reached out and unbuttoned my shirt as my breaths grew quicker. Rory leaned over and pressed the side of his face to my bare chest. “Can you do it again?” I let out a deep, slow growl and smiled as a shiver rocked through my mate’s body. “Good lord, I think I could get off just by you lying on top of me and doing that.”
“I really want to test your theory,” I admitted. “And we will; we have all the time in the world to discover together everything that drives you wild and gives you pleasure, but for now, I need you Rory. I need to take you and claim you as mine. Knowing that you accept me and want me is setting my blood alight with desire.”
“I feel it too.” Rory nuzzled his cheek against my chest. “My pulse is racing and my hands are shaky. I feel like I might go crazy if you don’t take me.”
That was all I needed to hear. I pulled Rory into my arms and stood in one fluid motion. I carried him into our bedroom as he pecked gentle kisses up my neck, only fanning the flames burgeoning inside me. I laid my mate on top of the comforter and popped his shirt over his head before tossing it to the floor. I shrugged my own top off of my shoulders as Rory kicked off his sneakers and socks.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of him as I stepped out of my boots and socks and unbuttoned my jeans. Rory’s hands trembled and faltered as he pawed at his own pants. Once I lowered my bottoms an
d boxers to the floor, I gripped Rory’s jeans by the ankles and in one swift yank, pulled them free of his lithe body. He gasped and stared at me with a fiery, passionate gaze. My lover liked it when I showed my strength and desire.
I peeled his briefs down his legs and was once again struck by the beauty and suppleness of his body. It was a sight I’d never get tired of admiring. I tossed his underwear to the floorboards and opened the drawer of the nightstand. I retrieved a fresh bottle of lube, provided by Rowan’s visit to town. I ripped the plastic wrapper open with my teeth and spit it into the floor before tossing the bottle onto the bed.
“Have I mentioned it’s super hot when you get wild?” Rory asked with fire in his eyes. His hand trailed down his body and gripped the base of his hard cock. He moaned as he gave himself a slow stroke.
I grabbed both of his wrists, peeling his hand off of his shaft. I pinned both of his arms above his head and climbed onto the bed, straddling his legs between my thighs. I lowered my face until it was only an inch from his. “I give you pleasure. I touch your pretty cock. I work this beautiful little body into a frenzy until you call out my name and come for me.” What can I say? Shifters are territorial bastards; especially alphas. Even the sight of Rory’s own hand on his dick made me envious.
Rory’s eyes slid closed and he swallowed hard. “Sweet jesus, I almost came already.” Knowing my words alone got him so worked up made my cock throb and leak.
“Not yet, sweetheart. Not until I’m inside your perfect little ass.” Rory’s nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. “Keep these here,” I instructed, squeezing his wrists gently. My mate’s eyes popped open and he quickly nodded his agreement.
I sat up on my knees and brought Rory’s legs to the outside of mine. I eased each of his feet up and planted them on the mattress so his knees were bent and I had an uninhibited view of his little pink pucker.
“Look at you,” I whispered as I trailed my hands up his thighs. “My god, you’re gorgeous.” I wedged my fingers beneath his ass and squeezed his soft flesh in my large palms. Each of his sweet little ass cheeks fit perfectly into my hands. I ran my thumb up his crack and brushed it across his hole, making his entire body shake. “You like that?” Rory nodded so hard the mattress squeaked. “You just wait; I’m gonna make you feel incredible.”
I pressed my thumb more firmly against Rory’s pucker and circled his sensitive flesh. “You don’t know how happy it makes me that I’m the first man to touch you here.” I would never hold having any past lovers against my mate, but I can’t deny the thrill and pride it gave me to be his first. “I’ll be the first and only man to ever touch you. This sweet little ass is mine forever; you’re mine forever.”
“Forever,” Rory repeated in a breathy whisper. “Please, Phoenix, I can’t wait any longer.” As he spoke, I was entranced by a glistening drop of pre-cum that beaded on his tip and slowly dripped down his length. I licked my lips but pulled my gaze away to retrieve the bottle of lube. My lover shivered with anticipation as I clicked the cap open and poured some of the slick liquid onto my hand.
I touched my wet finger to Rory’s hole and pushed until just the tip popped inside. My mate moaned long and loud as I slowly inched my slick digit into his hot channel. “You’re so tight,” I grunted through clenched teeth. It was hard to reign in my arousal when I was picturing how amazing his tight little asshole was going to feel wrapped around my cock.
Rory answered with only panted breaths. My lover was too worked up to speak. “It’s okay,” I soothed. “I’m gonna get you all loosened up for me. I’ll take good care of you, sweetheart.” It was not only my duty as his mate, but my greatest pleasure.
As I pulsed my finger back and forth, Rory’s muscles thinned and loosened, allowing me to glide easier within him. “Good job, sweetheart,” I crooned. “Just keep breathing nice and deep. I’m gonna add another one.” I touched a second fingertip to his rosebud and slid it in beside the first. Rory hissed at the stretch. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he answered with a grunt. “It just burns a little.”
I stilled my hand to allow Rory time to adjust to the intrusion. He kept his breathing slow and deep, but there was still a trace of discomfort on his face. I knew how to distract him from any pain he was feeling. I lowered my head and touched my tongue to the base of his dick. I licked up the side of his heated flesh, collecting the salty drop that captured my attention earlier.
“Oh god,” Rory moaned. His head tipped back in pleasure and his ring of muscle loosened around my fingers. I swirled my tongue around his tip, licking up every drip that leaked out of him. When I dipped the tip of my tongue into his slit, Rory cried out and bared down, sinking my fingers all the way inside of him.
Moving quickly to keep him focused on the pleasure instead of the pain, I parted my lips and took his length into my mouth. I swallowed him down to the root, nestling my lips against his coarse cropped hair.
“Oh Phoenix,” Rory groaned, gripping the pillow above his head, “That feels incredible, baby.” I slowly pulled my lips up until they were circled around his crown before slamming back down, burying him again in the heat of my throat. “Fuck yes! More! Please!” My mate’s naughty pleas spurred me on. I bobbed my head up and down, sucking his dick so hard my cheeks hollowed. I took every inch of him until his tip brushed against the back of my throat and swallowed around him, milking his flesh and drinking the steady stream of pre-cum that poured out of him.
All the while, I worked my fingers in and out of his ass. Rory seemed to no longer feel any discomfort as I spread my digits apart and circled them around, stretching and preparing his channel. I rotated my wrist and curled my fingers up to rub along a soft patch of flesh on the top of his passage. Rory cried out and slammed his arms down to grip the sheets at his side before quickly pinning them back over his head.
My mate was so intent on pleasing me and doing what I asked of him and it made my heart swell. I showed my appreciation by deep throating his cock once more as I rubbed the pads of my fingers in tight circles against his prostate. Rory’s whole body trembled and his hips bucked off of the mattress, burying his dick even further down my throat.
“Please, Phoenix; I’m so close, but I don’t want to come yet. I want to feel your big dick inside me. Take me, baby.”
I pulled my fingers free of his ass and dropped his dick from my mouth as a hungry growl ripped out of me. Rory shivered again as he moaned and spread his legs further apart. I poured a generous glob of lube over the length of my cock and pressed my tip to his prepared hole.
“Deep breath and push out,” I instructed. Rory nodded and breathed in deeply. As I pressed the head of my dick to his opening, Rory pushed out against me. My crown popped through his ring and we both moaned aloud as I slowly sank every inch of my thick cock inside him. “Is that okay?” I asked when my pubes were nestled against his balls. As much as I wanted to give my mate the ride of his life, I needed to take my time with him and ensure his comfort.
“It’s good,” he panted. “Please move.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I slowly pulled back until just my fat tip was inside him and steadily pushed back in. “You’re doing so good,” I crooned. “So good for me, sweetheart.”
“And it feels good?” he asked with a look of desperate longing on his face.
“It feels incredible.” I pulled back again and slid into him a little quicker. “Oh, Rory, you’re so tight and hot for me.” I picked up my pace, pulsing my hips back and forth in a steady rhythm. His passage sucked against me and pulled me deeper inside with every push. “Oh god, I’ve never felt anything like this.” I moaned as I watched Rory’s little asshole stretch and gobble up every inch of my length. “So fucking sexy.”
I gripped my mate’s ankles and wrapped his legs around my hips. “Just like that,” I told him and he nodded again, locking his ankles behind my back. I circled my hands around his slim hips and pulled his body down onto me as I rocked up into him.
“Fuck!” Rory’s cry made me pause and I looked at him with wide eyes, worried I hurt him. “Please don’t stop. It feels so good. You’re hitting a spot that-” He screamed again when I snapped my hips back and slammed into him. “There!”
“That’s your sweet spot,” I growled as I moved even quicker, pistoning my hips back and forth while rubbing the special place inside him that had my sweet mate falling apart. Rory moaned and thrashed, squeezing the pillow behind his head until his fingers turned white. He used his legs to pull me even deeper into him as he cursed at the ceiling.
Rory chanted, “So good,” over and over as I slammed my body into him, pounding his tight little asshole with everything I had. Sweat poured down both of our faces and my mate’s chest heaved with ragged breaths. “I’m close!” he yelled, looking at me pleadingly.
I wanted to give Rory everything he needed. I let loose of one of his hips and wrapped my fist around his red, leaking cock. I jacked him furiously, pumping my wrist in time with my hips as they crashed into him. My mate’s back bowed off of the mattress, any pain in his side long forgotten due to the ecstasy coursing through him. His dick swelled in my hand and he screamed my name as he exploded.
Thick white cords spurted against Rory’s stomach as he moaned and trembled beneath me. His eyes rolled back in his head and his ass clenched around me as he lost himself to his release. My balls lifted toward my body and pressure bloomed in my pelvis. I gripped his hips once again and slammed him down onto me, burying my dick as deep inside of him as possible. I growled out my lover’s name as I erupted.
My hot seed pumped into him, painting his internal walls and my heart leapt. It’s time. Rory’s eyes slowly opened and focused on me, gazing at me with love and wonder. He knew what was coming. He gave me a gentle smile and nod, and I pounced.
